# How has Former President Trump pissed you off today? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640 "2017-01-20T17:21:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 208
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4145 "2018-07-17T18:09:02Z")
What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4146 "2018-07-17T18:09:05Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Did Sun Tzu mention a few things about leadership with potentially applicable parallels in Trumpian behavior? > > A leader leads by example, not by force. > > You have to believe in yourself. > > _ **Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.** _ > > If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. > > _ **Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.** _ > > If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. > > If his forces are united, separate them. > > If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. > > Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. > > The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. > > Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting. > > If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things. > > Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win. > > _ **To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.** _ > > _ **Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.** _ > > Way? No-Way? Total coincidence? Nothing to it? I mean yesterday’s performance was on it’s face a literally stunning display of incompetence, even for him. Could he actually be playing Putin? …asks the Russian troll. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4147 "2018-07-17T18:11:53Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Way? No-Way? Total coincidence? Nothing to it? I mean yesterday’s performance was on it’s face a literally stunning display of incompetence, even for him. Could he actually be playing Putin? I mean, if we throw out _everything_ we know about Trump, his methods of negotiating, how inept he is at his job, Trump’s constant genuflections towards Putin and other dictators, _et cetera_… …What the hell. Care to outline a scenario where this logic makes _any_ sense? Like, actually walk us through it? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4148 "2018-07-17T18:30:47Z")
Donald Trump couldn’t pronounce Sun Tzu, let alone have his teachings guide foreign policy. ---
**Author:** ![SingleMalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/singlemalt/32/3961_2.png) [@SingleMalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleMalt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4149 "2018-07-17T18:33:55Z")
I’d guess that Putin is probably well acquainted with Sun Tzu. I don’t think Trump could get through the first two pages of the comic book version. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4150 "2018-07-17T18:40:39Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Did Sun Tzu mention a few things about leadership with potentially applicable parallels in Trumpian behavior? > > A leader leads by example, not by force. > > You have to believe in yourself. > > _ **Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.** _ > > If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. > > _ **Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.** _ > > If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. > > If his forces are united, separate them. > > If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. > > Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. > > The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. > > Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting. > > If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things. > > Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win. > > _ **To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.** _ > > _ **Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.** _ > > Way? No-Way? Total coincidence? Nothing to it? I mean yesterday’s performance was on it’s face a literally stunning display of incompetence, even for him. Could he actually be playing Putin? So, the best rebuttal the conservatives can come up with is “On its face, yesterday’s press conference was something between totally incompetence and treason but Trump is a genius so he must be playing some sort of multi-dimensional chess. Face it dude, you fell for a con artist. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4151 "2018-07-17T18:47:36Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Did Sun Tzu mention a few things about leadership with potentially applicable parallels in Trumpian behavior? Most of these vague maxims have parallels in Vladimir Putin’s behaviour. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4152 "2018-07-17T19:16:08Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Did Sun Tzu mention a few things about leadership with potentially applicable parallels in Trumpian behavior? > > A leader leads by example, not by force. > > You have to believe in yourself. > > _ **Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.** _ > > If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. > > _ **Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.** _ > > If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. > > If his forces are united, separate them. > > If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. > > Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. > > The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. > > Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting. > > If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things. > > Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win. > > _ **To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.** _ > > _ **Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.** _ > > Way? No-Way? Total coincidence? Nothing to it? I mean yesterday’s performance was on it’s face a literally stunning display of incompetence, even for him. Could he actually be playing Putin? Well, he seems to be doing a pretty bad job with this one, since he’s kissing his sovereign’s arse in press conferences: > [@](#): > > If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4153 "2018-07-17T19:37:56Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > So, the best rebuttal the conservatives can come up with is “On its face, yesterday’s press conference was something between totally incompetence and treason but Trump is a genius so he must be playing some sort of multi-dimensional chess. > > Face it dude, you fell for a con artist. This is the guy who didn’t know that England and the U.K. were 2 different things. I think we can rule out 3-D chess. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4154 "2018-07-17T19:53:56Z")
Ask Trump about Sun Tzu and he’d most likely tell you he doesn’t like Chinese food. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4155 "2018-07-17T20:01:58Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Did Sun Tzu mention a few things about leadership with potentially applicable parallels in Trumpian behavior? > > A leader leads by example, not by force. > > You have to believe in yourself. > > _ **Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.** _ > > If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. > > _ **Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.** _ > > If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. > > If his forces are united, separate them. > > If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. > > Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. > > The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. > > Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting. > > If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things. > > Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win. > > _ **To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.** _ > > _ **Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.** _ > > Way? No-Way? Total coincidence? Nothing to it? I mean yesterday’s performance was on it’s face a literally stunning display of incompetence, even for him. Could he actually be playing Putin? Ha ha. No. But whatever helps you sleep at night. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4156 "2018-07-17T20:32:02Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > This is the guy who didn’t know that England and the U.K. were 2 different things. I think we can rule out 3-D chess. He also reportedly didn’t know what the U.S. nuclear triad is, was surprised that healthcare reform is complicated, and mentioned an article of the Constitution that doesn’t even exist. So… agreed. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4157 "2018-07-17T21:05:44Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Did Sun Tzu mention a few things about leadership with potentially applicable parallels in Trumpian behavior? > > A leader leads by example, not by force. > > You have to believe in yourself. > > _ **Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.** _ > > If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. > > _ **Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.** _ > > If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. > > If his forces are united, separate them. > > If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. > > Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. > > The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. > > Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting. > > If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things. > > Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win. > > _ **To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.** _ > > _ **Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.** _ > > Way? No-Way? Total coincidence? Nothing to it? I mean yesterday’s performance was on it’s face a literally stunning display of incompetence, even for him. Could he actually be playing Putin? What this tells me is that you don’t understand Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. But don’t you fret, we’ll just add it to the very long list of things you don’t understand very well. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4158 "2018-07-17T21:35:21Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Ask Trump about Sun Tzu and he’d most likely tell you he doesn’t like Chinese food. But he’ll try it as long as the Sun Tzu is well done and there’s lots of ketchup. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4159 "2018-07-17T21:37:18Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > He also reportedly didn’t know what the U.S. nuclear triad is, was surprised that healthcare reform is complicated… Surely he knows those things by now - the [Catheter Cowboy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I68kMVOVx8E) explained them to him. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4160 "2018-07-17T21:52:07Z")
I failed to read particularly closely the remarks surrounding the Sun Tzu quotes or who they were from, and all I could think of was how well some of them were describing how Putin was acting. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4161 "2018-07-17T22:13:14Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > But he’ll try it as long as the Sun Tzu is well done and there’s lots of ketchup. Literal LOL. You scared my cat. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4162 "2018-07-17T23:28:58Z")
Trump says deep-throating Putin was even more fun than butt-fucking Europe. > **[Trump says Putin meeting went better than NATO summit | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/trump-nato-vladimir-putin-news-conference/index.html)** > > President Donald Trump defiantly defended on Tuesday his meeting with Vladimir Putin, saying his encounter with the Russian leader went "even better" than his summit with NATO leaders last week. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4163 "2018-07-18T00:45:36Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > So, the best rebuttal the conservatives can come up with is “On its face, yesterday’s press conference was something between totally incompetence and treason but Trump is a genius so he must be playing some sort of multi-dimensional chess. … Yes, the '_Trump is actually only pretending to be an idiot as a brilliant 4th-dimensional chess move’_ excuse has been trotted out so often in the past two years that those spouting it cannot manage to do so with anything approaching coherence. But it is, quite literally, _all they have_. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640/4164 "2018-07-18T04:02:58Z")
One word! He only got _one word_ wrong in the press conference with his KGBFF, and of course that makes all the difference. Color me relieved: [https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/white-house-mood-donald-trump-vladimir-putin-news-conference/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/white-house-mood-donald-trump-vladimir-putin-news-conference/index.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640.md?page=207) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-former-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today/777640.md?page=209)